WOTTON-BASED engineering giant Renishaw hosted 150 students from local primary schools to learn about the company’s supersonic car Bloodhound SSC.

The students visited Renishaw’s Gloucestershire headquarters to see a full-scale model of the supersonic car, which was built in an attempt to break the land speed record, and participate in hands-on activities.

Students were able to see the application of engineering and how it links to the school curriculum.

The project was also a platform for Renishaw’s education outreach, where a dedicated team works to inspire young people into future science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers.

On the day, the education team from Bloodhound SSC delivered a presentation explaining the story of the project, focussing on how the car has been designed and built, who will be racing it and the parts that Renishaw has produced – such as the titanium nose tip and steering wheel.

Students attended from six local primary schools; North Nibley Church of England Aided School, Kingswood Primary School, Tortworth Primary School, Charfield Primary School, plus two schools from Wotton-under-Edge - The British School and Blue Coat Church of England Primary School.

Simon Biggs, education liaison officer at Renishaw, said: “The Bloodhound SSC is an incredibly exciting and engaging project.

“It is important to open young people’s eyes to innovative projects to increase enthusiasm towards STEM subjects and draw a link back to the school curriculum.”

Renishaw is involved in a number of local and national education outreach projects to encourage young people to engage with STEM activities including work with; Greenpower, Young Engineers, Bristol Music Trust, ss Great Britain Trust, and also runs Engineering and Software work experience weeks.

For more information on Renishaw’s involvement in the Bloodhound SSC project and its commitment to education outreach visit www.renishaw.com